Dear Parents,
We enjoyed a great first week of school! Please remember to be checking your child’s progress, homework, and behavior every day/week in their agendas and sign once a day/week.
Important Dates:
Tuesday, August 21- Curriculum Night 6:30 pm
Friday, August 31-Book Log and Review due
Monday, September 3 – Labor Day
School Dress Code
Below is the Dress code as written in the Dolvin Handbook. With summer still very present, I just wanted to remind everyone of the policy. We have given the students reminders about “school clothes” and “play/home clothes” as well. We even use ourselves as examples. (Ms. Pratt has always been tall, so she has always had to buy longer clothes than her friends. J OR Ms. Pratt wears different clothes to the park/mall during the summer than she would wear to school.) Thank you for helping reinforce the school dress code with the students. J
All students shall dress appropriately so as not to disrupt or interfere with the educational program or orderly operation of the school. Extremes in dressing and grooming will not be permitted. Shorts and skirts must meet finger-tip rule and straps must be one inch in width. Bare midriffs, see through clothing, and apparel that designate gangs or similar are not appropriate wear. Flip flops should not be worn to school. On the first violation, the teacher will send a note home to remind the parent and student of the dress code (use standard form). For the second violation, students will be asked to call home for appropriate clothing or borrow from the clinic.
Spelling: Our first spelling list is starting this week. Your child will receive a list of words to study for their formative in about two weeks. They need to keep all lists in their binder the whole year. We will be defining the spelling words and working with the word parts each list. On the spelling quiz, the students will be asked to spell each word and define some words as well.
Grammar: We are working on our first unit which reviewing all 4th grade standards and usage rules for the following: common/proper nouns, singular/plural noun rules, possessive noun rules, action verbs, linking verbs, subjects, predicates, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. We will have a classwork grade at the end of the review unit.
Writing: We had an introduction to Writer’s workshop during the first week of school. This week we will begin our first writing unit, Narrative Writing. We will learn techniques to write more quality narrative stories. This week we will work on techniques to develop a good introduction including character development, setting development, and placement of the conflict. Over the next few weeks we’ll work on adding style and clarity to our narratives by adding in transitions, vivid verbs, and specific nouns. We’ll also learn about different plot techniques we can use in our narratives.
Reading: This week we are continuing to discuss Reader’s Workshop. We have discussed how to choose good books that are on our “just right” level. We discussed the difference between “Real” and “Fake” readers. This week we will discuss how to complete their monthly book logs, how to write a quality Reader’s letter, and practice creating HOTS questions. Next week we will be learning about story elements including the following: protagonist/antagonist, characterization, point of view (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd limited, and 3rd omniscient), setting, and identifying types of conflict (person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. nature, and person vs. society). In a fe weeks we will begin our first novel, (which is either Old Yeller or Island of the Blue Dolphins depending on your child’s reading level). Also, don’t forget to ask your child about the requirements off the monthly Book Log (should be in their binders). The Book Log should be signed by a parent, and it, along with the completed book review, are due Friday, August 31. It will only be accepted if signed by parent so we can make sure the book was read and finished at home.
Please visit Mrs. Knight’s Art Blog and look for new and exciting artwork!
Mrs. Knight’s blog, “Mrs. Knight’s Smartest Artists” – www.dolvinartknight.blogspot.com
Instagram - @smartestartists
Twitter - @MKSAhopeknight
We enjoyed a great first week of school! Please remember to be checking your child’s progress, homework, and behavior every day/week in their agendas and sign once a day/week.
Important Dates:
Tuesday, August 21- Curriculum Night 6:30 pm
Friday, August 31-Book Log and Review due
Monday, September 3 – Labor Day
School Dress Code
Below is the Dress code as written in the Dolvin Handbook. With summer still very present, I just wanted to remind everyone of the policy. We have given the students reminders about “school clothes” and “play/home clothes” as well. We even use ourselves as examples. (Ms. Pratt has always been tall, so she has always had to buy longer clothes than her friends. J OR Ms. Pratt wears different clothes to the park/mall during the summer than she would wear to school.) Thank you for helping reinforce the school dress code with the students. J
All students shall dress appropriately so as not to disrupt or interfere with the educational program or orderly operation of the school. Extremes in dressing and grooming will not be permitted. Shorts and skirts must meet finger-tip rule and straps must be one inch in width. Bare midriffs, see through clothing, and apparel that designate gangs or similar are not appropriate wear. Flip flops should not be worn to school. On the first violation, the teacher will send a note home to remind the parent and student of the dress code (use standard form). For the second violation, students will be asked to call home for appropriate clothing or borrow from the clinic.
Spelling: Our first spelling list is starting this week. Your child will receive a list of words to study for their formative in about two weeks. They need to keep all lists in their binder the whole year. We will be defining the spelling words and working with the word parts each list. On the spelling quiz, the students will be asked to spell each word and define some words as well.
Grammar: We are working on our first unit which reviewing all 4th grade standards and usage rules for the following: common/proper nouns, singular/plural noun rules, possessive noun rules, action verbs, linking verbs, subjects, predicates, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. We will have a classwork grade at the end of the review unit.
Writing: We had an introduction to Writer’s workshop during the first week of school. This week we will begin our first writing unit, Narrative Writing. We will learn techniques to write more quality narrative stories. This week we will work on techniques to develop a good introduction including character development, setting development, and placement of the conflict. Over the next few weeks we’ll work on adding style and clarity to our narratives by adding in transitions, vivid verbs, and specific nouns. We’ll also learn about different plot techniques we can use in our narratives.
Reading: This week we are continuing to discuss Reader’s Workshop. We have discussed how to choose good books that are on our “just right” level. We discussed the difference between “Real” and “Fake” readers. This week we will discuss how to complete their monthly book logs, how to write a quality Reader’s letter, and practice creating HOTS questions. Next week we will be learning about story elements including the following: protagonist/antagonist, characterization, point of view (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd limited, and 3rd omniscient), setting, and identifying types of conflict (person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. nature, and person vs. society). In a fe weeks we will begin our first novel, (which is either Old Yeller or Island of the Blue Dolphins depending on your child’s reading level). Also, don’t forget to ask your child about the requirements off the monthly Book Log (should be in their binders). The Book Log should be signed by a parent, and it, along with the completed book review, are due Friday, August 31. It will only be accepted if signed by parent so we can make sure the book was read and finished at home.
Please visit Mrs. Knight’s Art Blog and look for new and exciting artwork!
Mrs. Knight’s blog, “Mrs. Knight’s Smartest Artists” – www.dolvinartknight.blogspot.com
Instagram - @smartestartists
Twitter - @MKSAhopeknight